Video: French police show film of ‘drunk deer’ to warn rural drivers

Police in France are circulating a video of a deer seemingly ‘drunk’ after eating fermented food and warn drivers in rural areas to remain vigilant behind the wheel.

The video shows a deer stumbling around a field, running in circles and falling over several times. It has been viewed more than 300,000 times.

Viewers quipped that the scenes ‘look like Bambi after an apéro’, linking the deer’s behaviour to drinking alcohol.

This is not far from the truth, as the gendarmerie from Saôn-et-Loire explains. 

“In the spring, some wild animals consume buds, fermented fruit, or decomposing vegetation… and can exhibit totally unpredictable behaviour.”

These fermented and sugary foodstuffs, found on forest floors and trees, contain naturally produced alcohol that has a similar effect on animals as to humans (although it can be much more powerful than your typical glass of wine).

Depending on the level of fermentation and amount eaten, it can have an extreme effect on the animal’s behaviour. 

While some may find the video amusing – and others upsetting, although it is a naturally occurring phenomenon in the wild separate from human interference – police are using the video to raise warnings for drivers. 

These ‘drunk’ deer, exhibiting erratic behaviour and having lost their inhibitions, can jump onto roads and into oncoming traffic.

This includes in cases where they would otherwise avoid the routes due to the noise and lights of vehicles.

“Where there s danger, there are consequences: a collision can happen very quickly, especially at night or on secondary roads,” the gendarmes said. 

“Slow down, anticipate, avoid sudden turns, and be extra vigilant in wooded areas,” they add. 

It is not the first time such warnings have been given – in 2022, similar alerts were made in Normandy after a ‘drunk’ deer wandered into the Seine river.